To make an appointment with Melissa Cathcart, L.Ac. call 612.735.9993 

Acupuncture & Herbs

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete system of medicine. What makes it so effective is its flexibility. We can treat anything without knowing the cause, because we look at the way your body is reacting to whatever pathology it is experiencing. That’s why we were able to treat HIV before researchers identified the virus. That’s also why two patients with the same western medical diagnosis might have different TCM diagnoses—their bodies respond differently. This is truly natural, individualized medicine.

Herbs

Herbal therapy is important in TCM Internal Medicine. It has been used for centuries in China, where herbs are considered fundamental therapy for many acute and chronic conditions. Like acupuncture, Chinese herbs can address unhealthy body patterns that manifest in a variety of symptoms and complaints and change the body’s chemistry. The aims of Chinese herbal therapy are to help you regain balance in your body and to strengthen your body’s resistance to disease. Chinese herbs may be used to:

• Decrease cold/flu symptoms

• Increase your energy

• Ease your breathing

• Regulate digestion

• Improve your sleep

• Decrease pain

• Improve menopausal symptoms

• Help regulate menstrual cycles

• Resolve infections, inflammation, and auto-immune symptoms

Chinese herbal therapy can also be valuable in the rehabilitation from many chronic diseases. Formulas may be recommended when you have multiple symptoms or symptoms that are hard to pinpoint or if you have exhausted traditional medical options and nothing seems to help. Chinese herbal therapy is also beneficial as preventive medicine. For chronic conditions, herbal therapy is a long-term commitment. Many patients take herbs for 9 months to a year in order to fully shift their body’s chemistry and achieve lasting change.

Herbs are drop-shipped straight to your home from a reputable pharmacy . Powdered granules are mixed in hot water and drunk two to three times a day. The herbs are sourced responsibly and manufactured/processed by suppliers under strict accordance to pharmaceutical GMP with Certificates of Analysis on every lot ensuring quality, efficacy, purity and safety.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of sterile, single-use needles under the skin in order to activate the body’s own healing, usually through the immune system which is carried through the blood. It’s fortes are prevention of illness and the treatment of pain. Electro-acupuncture uses a small electrical current through the needles to help alleviate pain and promote healthy tissues, especially for hard-to-treat or chronic conditions.

The World Health Organization also recognizes the effects of acupuncture in treating:

• Low back pain

• Neck pain

• Sciatica

• Tennis elbow

• Knee pain

• Peri-arthritis of the shoulder

• Sprains

• Facial pain

• TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint syndrome

• Headache

• Dental pain

• Acute and chronic gastritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Induction of labor

• Breech birth presentation

• Morning sickness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Postoperative pain

• Stroke

• Essential hypertension

• Primary hypotension

• Renal colic

• Leucopenia

• Radiation/chemo reactions

• Allergic rhinitis

• Hay fever

• Biliary colic

• Depression

• Acute bacillary dysentery

• Primary dysmenorrhea

• Acute epigastralgia

• Peptic ulcer

Other Modalities

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete system of medicine that also includes cupping (shown above), Gua-Sha (an instrument-assisted manual therapy), Tui-Na (TCM bodywork), dietary counseling, Qi-Gong meditation, and Tai-Qi Chuan movement.

Melissa graduated from MN Institute of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (now Northwestern Health Sciences University) in 2000. She licensed with the MN Board of Medical Practice in 2001. She is certified in the following bodywork modalities: Dynamic Body Balancing (cranio-sacral therapy with myofascial release), Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, White Cloud 5-Element Qi-Gong meditation, kinesiology taping, dermo-neuro modulation (research-based Gua-Sha), prenatal & postnatal corrective exercise, and Vodder manual lymph drainage massage.